Barnet manager Dean Brennan has criticised referee Sunny Gill after a contentious 1-1 draw away at Exeter City on Tuesday night. Brennan claimed Gill missed a clear hair pull on goalscorer Idris Kanu that should have resulted in a red card for an Exeter player.
Idris Kanu gave Barnet the lead on the hour mark, capitalising on a loose save from Exeter goalkeeper Jack Bycroft. The Bees' advantage lasted just seven minutes before Reece Cole fired home an equaliser for the hosts. Barnet had earlier seen a Danny Collinge goal ruled out for offside in the eighth minute. This continued a frustrating trend for The Bees, who have now had three goals chalked off in their last five matches according to the Islington Gazette. Brennan admitted his side were not at their best, lacking quality and output in the final third.
Dean Brennan's main frustration centred on an incident involving Idris Kanu. The Barnet boss stated that referee Sunny Gill failed to spot what he believed was a clear hair pull on his forward. "I’m respectful of the point, but my main feeling is the referee, Sonny, has a duty of care to protect my players and every player on that pitch," Brennan said. He argued the offence warranted a straight red card, a decision that could have changed the complexion of the match. Brennan also pointed to missed chances that cost his team a win. "To get 1-0 up in the time that we did and to not make it 2-0 with two great chances, we never did that, and that cost us," he added.
The draw at St James Park means Barnet remain second in the League Two table. They have taken eight points from their opening four games, with two wins and two draws giving them a recent form of DDWW. The Bees have scored nine goals and conceded five, giving them a healthy +4 goal difference. They sit just one point behind leaders Bristol Rovers in what is shaping up to be a tight early title race.
Barnet's solid start has been built on a strong defensive foundation, conceding only five times. Their ability to score goals has also been evident, with nine netted already. This balance has been key to their early success. The team's resilience was on show again at Exeter, securing a point on the road despite not being at their fluent best. Brennan acknowledged a draw was probably a fair result on the night, but the officiating controversy left a sour taste. Fans can check the latest player statistics on our stats page.
Barnet's next challenge is to maintain their position near the top of the table. Their next fixture is at home this Saturday.
